Woman Gives Birth At Saratoga Zoo While Zoo Bears Watch

Bears on the watch: image via frumforum.comA woman watching the bears at theRosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY last Friday suddenly became the watched one as she went into labor and gave birth to a baby girl right on the Zoo's main path. What could the bears do?

Nothing. Just watch.

Which is what several of the zoo-goers were doing, stopping on the path to watch the woman, who had not much notice, give birth to a baby girl while zoo employees tried to shoo the gawkers away and keep the new mom and her baby warm with clothing and blankets.

In the meantime, a family member of the new mom called for an ambulance, and the county's Rural Metro dispatch supervisor provided directions to the zoo staff over the phone as the 21-year-old woman gave birth. Once the ambulance arrived, mom and baby were taken to Crouse Hospital.

Zoo Director Ted Fox told the Syracuse Post Standard that this year had seen a bumper crop of animal babies too.